Disclaimer: I do not Own Radiata Stories

Chapter Two: And Every Piece in its Place…

Jack walked, or rather strutted down the hall to the meeting room completely glowing with pride. Was he strutting because he won the tournament? Nah, that wasn't it. Was he proud of the cool new room he had? Nope, wrong again. Jack Russell was currently enjoying the feel of his trainee knight's uniform, a beautifully tailored long trench coat that had a flowing gravity defying feel to it and rounded shoulder guards. Sure, it still bore the pattern that showed which group of knights he belonged to, but Jack couldn't help but think this was someone's way of trying to get on his good-side. Under it he wore the under armor of his Divine Coat he had bought earlier that day. One the cool things he had figured out in one of his previous lives was that you could get things that were not on the market yet if you knew who to bribe and how much to bribe them with.

Captain Ganz sat in his seat waiting for his new subordinate to arrive. The other one, Ridley Silverlake was already sitting to his right with a small scowl etched on her face. He knew she was upset about losing to Jack but he hadn't expected her to hold a grudge. He himself didn't know what to make of the young man, his strange sudden appearance at the trials coupled with the strange way he could cause his voice to sound as if it were most authoritative thing in the world made the new captain feel, well slightly intimidated by the boy. Silence filled the room as the two waited, then without warning, the door swung open with a great deal of force behind it with the force coming from a certain Young Knight Trainee.

"Good afternoon everyone" Jack beamed. As he glanced around noticed look of shock on his Captains face who apparently had fallen out of his seat from surprise. He also took note of the girl he was determined to save, the one who was currently staring daggers at him, or trying to stare a hole through him.

"Are, you always going to be late?" Ridley asked her voice filled with annoyance.

Jack beamed at her "I am not late, Lady Ridley, nor am I early, I arrived at the exact moment that I meant to. What you identify as late I perceive as right on time, after all, time is relative." She stared at him for a moment as if he were an idiot.

"Whatever, let's just get this thing started" Not arguing Jack took he seat across the table from her and went into deep thought mode only to be brought out moments later by a very familiar question, "Captain, would you explain the meaning behind our squads name, Rose Cochon?" asked Ridley.

"You won't like it's meaning Ridley." Everyone at the table was now staring at Jack.

"Really, what does that mean?" Ridley asked as if she was daring Jack to make him-self look stupid.

"I must say, Master Jack that I too am now curious about what you mean. Do you know what its meaning is" Ganz asked sincerely.

"Only what the brigades name literally translates to. Rose Cochon Translates to mean Pink Pig, which I find degrading no matter how one tries to sugar coat it, but then again, government is all about sugar coating things, and as a knight brigade we are an extension of the government itself" Jack finished leaving both Ridley and Captain Ganz stunned beyond words.

The three sat in silence, Ridley and the Captain each going over what Jack had just told them. The former, wondering how a boy from a small village could know so much, while the latter, wondered why his brigade names' translation sounded so degrading. They were brought out of their thoughts by a question from Jack

"So Captain, what's our first mission?" Gaz's head snaps up, "Right, well our first mission is to escort a dwarf cargo shipment from earth valley to Radiata who will be carrying metal and trade goods, at first I thought it was an important mission but now, well I have my doubts of its importance"

Jack smiled at this "Well, our brigade name aside, this is a very important mission Captain. Point one; we will be protecting something that is important to our kingdom- trade goods. Point two; we will be escorting a non-human, which will strengthen our ties with them, showing we can be trusted. Point three, it is our first mission yet because of the aforementioned reasons, it shows me that Lord Larks, whom I assume assigned it to us, has faith in what we can accomplish. Finally I would like to point out that every mission, no matter how tedious, is important and if done effectively we shall shine in the end!"

Jack saw that his speech had just the effect he had hoped for on his teammates. Ganz was now staring at him with stars in his eyes and Ridley had a look of shock on her face "Wow, he really knows how to give an inspiring speech! I wonder if all the other children looked up to him at the village where he grew up."

Ganz started clapping "Well said Master Jack, your quite good at giving speeches, I feel fired up for the mission now."

Jack, smiled and put his right hand up to his chest covering his heart, "Thank you that means a great deal to me coming from my captain" He said as he sat back down "Right then we leave tomorrow from Lupus Gate, This meeting is adjourned "

As Ridley was walking towards the door Jack grabbed the handle and opened it for her, to which she simply Hmphed at him.

"I'm going to have to work hard to gain her friendship as usual" He thought, He quickly caught up to her and started walking beside her, she noticed it but still ignored him "Ridley?" he started "What?" she spat angrily at him "Could you show me the way to the castle library? I don't know the castle well and I wanted to read some of the books in there."

She looked at him surprise written all over her face. Not only surprised that he was asking for help, but also where he was asking her to take him. She quickly recovered her mask of indifference "Can you even read?"

Jack faked an offended expression "Of course I can read! " He said in mock anger. He knew she would enjoy getting a rise out of him and seeing him slightly vulnerable, so he would allow it.

"Really, what do you read then, because the books in there are pretty advanced. Even if you were taught how to read at your village you would have a hard time."

Jack smirked in his head. "Time, to instigate an early re-evaluation of herself" He closed his eyes and shook his head "I had no idea you would be so stuck-up that you would look down on those less privileged than yourself, that ugly way of thinking doesn't suit you Ridley Silverlake. If you won't help me I'll go find someone who will" He said as he walked off leaving Ridley shocked at how he had just described her.

"Am I really that petty?" she thought to herself "All he did was ask me for help, and I let my pride ruin a chance to find out more about him. What if I mess-up our mission tomorrow because of what I said?" She thought as she ran to her room tears streaming down her face.

Jack made his way to the library. He had known where it was the whole time, however he just wanted a chance to speak to Ridley and work on gaining her friendship. Once He got to the Library he noticed a familiar figure standing in the historical section. He really did pity Aphelion; he now understood why the dragon was so bent on changing the cosmic order. "I'm just like him, but he is still a necessary casualty, a pawn for my plan" Yes Jack Knew that he would have to force the Silver dragons' power out of him before it was all over but still that wouldn't stop him from what he was about to do.

"Excuse me sir, but could I get that book right there. Jack said pointing to one of the books Lord Lucian was standing in front of.

"Oh, of course, here allow me" He said as he picked up the book in question but frowned slightly when he saw the cover.

"What is it; you're not going to tell me that it's too difficult for me to read are you?"

Lucian shakes his head and answered "No, if you say you can read it I believe you. It's just that, I'm curious as to how you can read it as it is written encoded in Enochian and Modern Elven" he said handing the book to Jack.

"Ah, well I have a strange ability which allows me to read any written language as if there are no differences between them." Jack halfway lied; after all he did have a symbol on him that allowed him to do just that and he had already learned at least seventy percent of the Totalases languages'.

"Really, that is quite something, well then in regards to the book you're now holding, which was co-authored by a Dark Elf, where do you stand on the relationship between humans and non-humans?"

Jack smiled up at the dragon in human form "I think the two should stop fighting and get along! From my perspective humans are like little children grasping at everything because of their short lives, but Elves, Light Elves in particular are like mature minded adults wizened through their long lives and experience. However children won't mind adults who refuse to give them the attention and guidance they need. When you look at it that way both sides are equally at fault."

This answer was obviously not what Lucian was prepared for, which was evident by the look of shock on his face "That, is an impressive analogy young man, what was your name again?"

Jack held out his hand for a hand shake "Jack Russell, trainee knight of the Rose Cochon brigade, and yours?" Lord Lucian took his hand and returned the gesture "Lord Lucian Hewitt, personal adviser to Lord Jasne Colton"

again Jack decided a little buttering up couldn't hurt "Ah, Lady Ridley's father, please inform him that his work to better the relationships between the non-humans does not go un-appreciated"

Again this took Lucian by surprise "I'll be sure to tell him that" he said with a bit of wonder in his voice." Well then, if you'll excuse me my Lord, I have some notes that I have to copy down before ten-o-clock rolls around. "

He said as he went over to an empty seat a library desk took out some paper and began to coping notes he needed from Alchabar Nicolies and Simlie Fireleafs' The Grand Arcane Work.

The notes in question would be invaluable to him later on. Lucian watched the young man for a while then left. When Jack noticed he was no longer being watched, oh yes, he knew that Aphelion had been watching him, and he was right to.

"However as much as I like to mess with these eldritch creatures minds, I'm going to have to settle for messing with my human peers for now so I won't draw unwanted attention to myself" Jack thought, as he finished copying the notes he needed. After he was finished he left the library and made his way to his room. After he got there, he took his notes and went over to the wall and used his Magical Force ability to pull one of the large rectangular stone bricks from the wall. This particular brick he had hallowed out earlier to hold his grimore and any notes that were magical in nature, he had learned from someone else's experience and misfortune that any and all magical research should be hidden." When it comes to magical research there is no such thing as being too paranoid." Jack said as to himself as he put the stone back in place, then smiled "Look at me I 'm quoting Genius. Well I better get a little rest before tomorrow."

Early the next morning the new brigade met up in the meeting room then headed out to the entrance of the castle where Ganz, as all the times before, spotted a certain worried father pacing at its entrance

"Show time!" Jack thought in his head "Lord Jasne, you're up very early sir! Is everything alright?" Before the stout Lord could even utter his usual response Jack zipped ahead of the group and gave a formal Bow while putting on his exited child act"So, your Lord Jasne? You have no idea how much it means to finally meet you in person, it's a great honor!" he said coming up from his bow.

Jasne, looked at Jack curiously before asking "And who are you?" Jack faked an elated expression "I'm sorry, introductions first! Where are those manners my sister beat into me? Jack Russell, Trainee Knight of the Rose Cochon brigade, son of Sir Carin Russell former Captain of the Blanc Chavle. I'm sure my father is smiling down on this chance meeting today, after all you are the one who has worked so hard to preserve the good relations between humans and non-humans, something my father would be proud to see continued!"

The Lord Chamberlain now had a slightly puzzled look on his face. "Oh, is that right?" he said trying desperately to remember the Knight Captain who was just mentioned, so he wouldn't look like a disrespectful fool.

Jack was quicker of course, and used it to both flatter Jasne, and inform him "Oh sir, I see your wisdom at work, you're trying to test me to see if I remember just what my father's brigade did, which of course you know was to act as an Mediator and Intermediary in human and non-human disputes! You are quite clever sir."

Jasne took the complement and the bait just as Jack planned, "why thank you, young man. Jack was it, and you're in the Rose Cochon same as my Ridley? She told me how you two tied in the last round I trust you didn't get banged up to badly?"

Ganz was Just about to enlighten the Lord on what really happened but Jack quickly stopped that, by muttering a black-out spell causing him to collapse.

"Oh dear, it seems that in his eagerness to start the mission today the captain may have forgotten to eat something." Jack lied bowing to Jasne, "In any case, it was nice to meet you my Lord, and I hope to talk to you again soon"

Jasne smiled at the young man who was now helping his daughter to wake up their captain

"Well I'm Just glad to see that my daughter has at least one capable team-mate, I was here to see you all off, but now I think I should wish you luck instead! Will he be alright, or should I have someone bring him something to eat?"

Jack faked another smile and shook his head "No I have a potion on me that I bought yesterday that should do the trick. He'll soon be right as rain, whatever that means"

Jasne beamed at the young trainees' preparedness "Well, if it's under control, I wish you luck! Take good care of my Ridley."

Jack answered "Thank you sir, and trust me your daughter can handle herself in a fight"

Jasne gave a worried look at his daughter who simply glared back" Of course, you're right she is a knight after all!" and walked back into the castle. Jack took out his "potion" which was actually designed by him to augment memories of the drinker by the first words spoken to him, and put it in the Captains mouth.

As he came to, Jack spoke to him saying "You didn't eat breakfast this morning, did you Captain?" Ganz just shook his head "No, I didn't, I must have been to exited and forgot it. I can't believe I just collapsed in front of lord Jasne like that!" Jack just smiled at his Captain, "It's alright, I reassured him for you, and he wished us luck. Now let's get to Lupus Gate to start this mission, or is there something else we should do first?" Ganz had a look of realization on his face." actually there is something we should do before we leave we have to meet up with a priest from the Olacion Order who will be accompanying us on this mission, but we should meet him on our way to the gates so we needn't fret over that" Ridley was deep in thought, about why Jack hadn't corrected her father, it was really bugging her how he made no mention of it.

"I know what you're thinking" Said a rich soothing voice from beside her, she looked over to find Jack walking beside her looking up at the sky with a knowing smile on his face.

"Oh?" was all Ridley could say contemplating the sudden change in his voice.

"You wish to know why I did not correct your father, and I will tell you why. First, there is the matter currently at hand. I am under the impression that your father is a tad over protective, and had he found out that I beat you in the first match, our brigade might find it lacking a member now. Second, I didn't want your father thinking badly of me for beating you. Finally, and most important, is that had we met in the final round like he believes it very well could have been a tie."

Ganz, who had been listening in all this time had to agree with this logic, though it was embarrassing for him, it was probably a good thing that he had blacked out when he did "Master Jack is right, about this and though it almost seems like it's a Lie I will endeavor to keep it a secret and ask Lord larks If he will do the same, and there is a grain of truth to what Master Jack has said, you both just might have tied in the last round."

Ridley looked over at Jack who was now humming something to himself with his hands crossed behind his head "I Sorry, for the way I treated you yesterday Jack"

Jack looked over and smiled" It's alright Ridley I didn't take what you said to heart. Just remember though that words can scar a person more deeply, than any cut on the battle field" and though his voice had returned to normal Ridley couldn't help but admire the wisdom in his words. At that moment Ganz spotted Clive and trotted ahead to great him with Ridley close behind him.

Jack Paused a moment and watched, " Just a few more pieces and the board will be set." He grinned as he ran to catch up with the group.

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